The South Carolina State Museum invites the public to celebrate South Carolina Arbor Day with a special evening featuring acclaimed author and environmental writer Margaret Renkl on December 2 at 6 p.m.
The free Arbor Day program will include a moderated conversation, reception, and book signing. The discussion with Renkl will be led by James Barilla, author of My Backyard Jungle and professor of creative writing at the University of South Carolina.
Renkl, one of the South’s most notable literary voices on nature and conservation, is a contributing writer for The New York Times and the author of three essay collections. Her most recent book, The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, won the 2024 Southern Book Prize.
A native of Alabama and graduate of the University of South Carolina, Renkl weaves a distinctly Southern perspective into her reflections on nature, family, and the changing environment. Her writing encourages readers to rediscover the wonder in their own backyards and to act with compassion and urgency to protect the natural world.
“Margaret Renkl: Celebrating and Protecting Nature’s Gifts” is free, though guests are encouraged to RSVP at scmuseum.org. Copies of Renkl’s books will be available for purchase during the event. For more details, visit scmuseum.org.
Photo from authorsunbound.com
